At the time of release 71.5pc of NCHC staff had received their flu vaccine, taking the important step in protecting themselves and their patients.

Roisin Fallon-Williams, chief executive, said: “Patient safety is at the forefront of everything we do, especially as we visit many of our patients in their own homes. Knowing that our staff are protected from the flu virus is one of the best safety measures we can provide.

“We are delighted with this result and are incredibly proud of our dedicated staff. They carry out fantastic work under pressure, without the added pressure of flu risk. But it doesn’t stop here, flu season is still among us and we are committed to vaccinating more staff and educating people on the potentially fatal effects of flu.”